Bloated/Rubbing Falco Hawkfish - 10 years old!

[tylersarah]

Hello,

I need some help with my Falco Hawkfish. Today I caught him rubbing on rocks and he is extremely bloated. Eyes are clear, no bumps or lesions.

I haven't added anything new to the tank for months, so I don't feel it's crypto/velvet. One thing out of the ordinary is one of our two mp40's stopped working today and we had to hook up a spare powerhead, but none of the corals and other fish are showing any symptoms due to decreased oxygen.

The Falco is a heavy eater, he scarfs blackworms in the morning and is known to eat large pieces of food by himself, although, today he didn't eat excessively.

Could he be having an allergic reaction to a coral? A bacterial infection? I've had him for nearly a decade and he's never shown an ill symptom. Ideas please!

 

[tylersarah]

I've heard of swim bladder?

 

[HumbleFish]

I've heard of swim bladder?

Very possible. Or it could be an obstruction of some kind in his digestive system (i.e. gas bubble). If you can get him to eat it, try feeding a peeled boiled pea. I think the fiber in them helps... move things along.

 

[tylersarah]

He is less bloated today and I haven't seen him rub his side on anything.

 

[tylersarah]

I'm wondering if he ate too much. He's already fat, I know he eats quite a lot. I feed often to sustain the butterflyfish.

 

[tylersarah]

Well, he died in quarantine even after 2 Prazipro treatments. It's some kind of internal parasitic worm that also attacks the gills, also infected most, if not all of my other fish.